Sweet Recipes

This is my artsy interpretation of a deconstructed trifle. We had lovely guests flying in from Atlanta and I wanted to finish our meal with a wow factor. I displayed a wide array of colors using pistachios and cherries (the first ones harvested from our garden).

The cake portion of the dessert is an almond croquant. The thick custard was made with vanilla beans, sherry, mascarpone cheese and whipped cream. I also wanted to contrast the warmth from the croquant with Indian pistachio ice cream. The dessert was the perfect balance of flavor, texture and heat.

Xôi lá dứa is a very popular snack/dessert in Vietnam. It's made of pandan-flavored steamed sticky rice covered in sweetened, fragrant coconut milk. Sticky rice can be flavored in many ways and there are plenty of savory versions as well, but our favorite is the one prepared with pandan leaves. To save time and add extra flavor, I used store-bought pandan paste in addition to the pandan leaves and also added coconut powder and coconut milk. Don't be fooled by the vegan aspect of this festive dessert, I serve it in small portions because of its rich properties.

The more authentic way of serving xôi lá dứa is to present it family-style on a large platter and to pair the sticky rice with freshly-grated coconut shreds and powdered, sweetened peanut and sesame garnish.

If you were born in the 80s and lived in France, you probably know of the marble cake called Le Savane de Papy Brossard.Ça a bercé mon enfance, which I'd translate to "it sweetened my childhood". This coffee cake is a marbrécake. The beauty of this cake is its appealing look once sliced with its gorgeously marbled, streaked appearance made of vanilla and chocolate.

A generous amount of quality butter and a little milk made the cake moist and fluffy while milk chocolate provided the contrast in color needed for this sweet treat. I think the result was very close to the one I had when I was a child. My hope is that baby Aria will keep the same fond memories of this chocolate marble cake once she grows up!

Blondies and brownies are a staple in our home. Last week, we prepared fudgy blondies and covered them in milk chocolate ganache. The recipe has never steered us wrong. Bananas provide the texture of the blondie cakes and it contrasts so well against the peanut-chocolate topping called ganache. Despite its French name, ganache isn't complicated: simply melt chocolate in boiling heavy cream and add a pinch of salt. This version was prepared with a large chocolate-to-cream ratio to create a dense, thick texture with a consistency close to a chocolate truffle. Voilà!

This is ideal for any brunch, picnic or family get-together. You can prepare the blondies at the last minute and you’ll have plenty of time to spend with your loved ones. It’s also a great recipe on which to practice your baking skills.

I lovemadeleine cookies. I love them so much, I probably make them at least once a month. They're a great snack and I always have someone in our home to enjoy, especially for guests that stop by for tea time. Believe me, ours never go to waste.

My friend Zareen recently opened her new restaurant, aptly named Zareen's, on 1477 Plymouth in Mountain View. She serves delicious Pakistani/Indian kebabs and various scrumptious goods. She asked me if I'd be interested to make desserts. I rolled up my sleeves and jumped into her kitchen. I wanted to impart an oriental flair to the sweets so I prepared masala chai madeleine cupcakes. If you live in the area, stop in and try Zareen's delicous menu and my sweets! And if you don't live near by, you can always try and replicate them by watching my new madeleine cooking tuorial! Please check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel (PhamFataleDotCom) and bon appétit!